Attachment for stringed instruments



.Dec. 11, 1928.

J. E. LARSEN ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS Fil ed Feb. 5, 1927 gwwmtoe LIELBISE-TL' Patented Dec. 11, 1928 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN EDWIN LARSEN, OF MILLIS, MASSACHUSETTS.

ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed February This invention has for its object the provision of a simple, inexpensive and efficient device by the use of which students will be enabled to acquire the proper manner of handling a bow when learning to play stringed instruments. The invention provides a device which may be readily engaged with or detached from the bridge of a violin, or similar stringed instrument, and which will compel the student to hold the bow in proper position for correct playing so that he will unconsciously train the muscles of the arm and wrist to naturally assume the correct position in performing. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and consists in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the claim following a detailed description.

In the drawlngz Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a violin having the attachment applied thereto Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged edge view of the attachment removed from the violin, and

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section of the attachment.

In the drawing, the reference numeral 1 indicates the body of a violin, 2 the tailpiece, 3 the finger board and 4 the strings of the same, the strings passing over the usual bridge 5, as will be understood.

The device embodying my invention comprises an arc-uate or arched member 6 having flanges 7 extending along both its side edges so that a channel is produced to receive the bow and maintain the same in the proper position for correct playing. This arch-like member may be conveniently formed from a strip of sheet metal and is formed upon such a radius that it will conform to the arched arrangement of the strings and span the strings, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Extending from one side edge of the guide are fingers 8 which are preferably formed integral with the guide and are resilient, the free ends of these fingers being turned downwardly, as shown at 9, whereby they are adapted to engage and bear against the opposite faces of the bridge 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

When the device is to be used, the ends 9 of the resilient fingers 8 are slipped over the upper edge of the bridge of the violin so that they will clamp the bridge and will thereby support the device over the strings with the guide resting on the strings, the arched guide,

5, 1927. Serial 1%. 166,120.

consequently, serving as a mute. The fingers are of such length that the guide will be disposed at that point between the end of the finger board and the bridge which is recog nized as the proper point for the bow to engage the strings in order to produce the tie sired true tones. The Width of the guide or the distance between the flanges 7 should be substantially equal to the width of a standard bow so that the how will be held at a right angle to the strings and be prevented from deviating from such angle as it is moved back and forth. The pupil will hold the violin in the proper position for playing, just as though music. was to be produced, and will move the bow back and forth through the guide so that he will acquire the proper motion for performing upon the instrument. It is intended that this dummy playing will be continued until the pupil begins to feel fatigued in the muscles of the arm or wrist, whereupon he will desist and remove the attachment. After a rest, he may practice playing with the bow in contact with the strings and in this manner he will unconsciously train the muscles so that, when the bow is taken up, they will naturally assume the proper position for correct playing. It is well known that, in order to produce true tones from a stringed instrument, the bow should be held at a right angle to the strings and should engage the strings at a certain point between the finger board and the bridge. lrVhen the bow strikes the strings at some other point or at an angle other than a right angle, discordant sounds are emitted which are very annoying to those who are compelled to listen. This objection is entirely overcome by the use of my attachment inasmuch as the bow will not touch the strings while the attachment is in use and will be held to a rectilinear path at a right angle to the strings and the user will be compelled to maintain the bow at the correct distance between the bridge and the finger board. The device is exceedingly simple in construction and may be struck from a sheet metal blank so that it may be produced in large quantities at a very small cost. It may be very easily engaged with the bridge or detached there from and will not add perceptibly to the weight of the instrument when applied thereto.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

An attachment for stringed musical instrurseeyss inents having bridge, consisting of an arennte ship conform to the arch defined by the strings the instrument and having guide finr es along its side edges, resilient fingers spaced in hzterei relation to one side edge of the said strip end provided with depending ends adapted to detachably engage the bridge 01 the instrument whereby to support the strip in front of the bridge close to and extending ner es the strings and means connecting said fingers t0 the said side edge of said strip.

In testimony whereof I nfiix my signature.

JOHN EDWIN LARSEN. he 

